Apologies for the delay in posting but much drama chez Nuala. The paperwork on my microchip, which is critical to this trip, was “lost,” and I was overwhelmed by the search for it. One would hope better care might have been taken of something so important, but evidently not. Fortunately it has been located, and I will let the negligence go for now because I need to explain the new European pet regulations to you. The best news is that the quarantine that Ireland and the UK previously required n’existe plus, but there is special documentation required for pets travelling from the US. Within Europe we may travel with an official PET PASSPORT, but when first coming from the US, we need to enter with a different document – a document for travel from a “listed country.” That form, “official third party certificate” is called ANNEX II. It needs to have been filled out by a vet no more than ten days prior to our arrival in Europe. Once we have arrived and have been approved, we will be issued the PET PASSPORT, which is good for four months (or until our rabies vaccination expires, whichever is sooner.)There are several online companies that will sell you this form, but you can contact the country you want to visit directly and the consulate will send give you link with all the necessary information and downloads for the forms. We contacted the very helpful Special Projects Unit at Animal Health and Welfare in the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and were sent these links for information and documentation:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/requirementforentryorreentryofdogscats
andferretsfromanothereumemberstateandcertainothereuropean
countriesandterritories/
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/requirementsforentryorre-entryofdogscatsandferretsintoirelandfromacountryoutsideoftheeuorcertainnon-eueuropeancountries/

You should read this all carefully but basically this is what is required:
1) a microchip;
2) a rabies vaccination AFTER the microchip;
3) ANNEX II form;
and for Ireland and the UK only:
4) tapeworm treatment.
The tapeworm requirement is tricky. Both Ireland and the UK require the treatment within 120 hours of entry. I am going to have it done at a vet in New York the morning I fly (it can be added to my ANNEX II by a vet other than the one who will fill out the main form) but I could also have it done by a vet in France , should I want to stay in Paris longer. Once I am approved in the UK, there is no need for another treatment to enter Ireland. (The tapeworm is on the continent but not in Ireland or the UK. The very thought of it is disgusting.)
I hope all this is clear. The arrangements are not necessarily onerous, but the process is a little intimidating because if all is not done correctly…well, we don’t even want to consider that scenario. (Would they leave me at the airport to go eat in Paris? As the kids say, I really don’t want to go there.)
One final note: photo optional on PET PASSPORT but of course I will have one.